Poster presenter: Takanori Sasaki, MD, PhD, Postdoc Fellow, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Poster title: Clonal Relationships Between Tph and Tfh Cells in Patients with SLE and in Murine Lupus
Poster session C: Monday, Nov. 18
What is your poster about?
“In this work, we profiled T-cell receptors on Tph and Tfh cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients at diagnosis, six months, and one year, and discovered that these cell types shared T-cell receptors, suggesting either a common progenitor or plasticity between these two populations. We also utilized scRNA/TCRseq to explore developmental relationships between Tph and Tfh cells.”
Why did you decide to investigate this topic?
“Despite advances in treatment, some cases of SLE remain challenging to manage. Tph and Tfh cells are thought to play key roles in autoantibody production, and understanding their developmental mechanisms could lead to new therapeutic strategies.”
What are you working on next related to this research?
“Our next step is to identify transcription factors and molecules involved in the differentiation of Tph and Tfh cells, with the aim of exploring the potential targets for clinical applications.”
What excites you most about your work?
“We are uncovering insights into the clonal dynamics in Tph and Tfh cells, offering new perspectives on the mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of SLE.”
What are you most looking forward to at ACR Convergence 2024 in Washington, D.C.?
“I’m looking forward to connecting with rheumatologists from across the country and gaining insights from the latest research.”